New Year’s Resolution It seems that every year the majority of people start out full of vim and vigor as they optimistically attack what is usually a lengthy and quite lofty list of goals to achieve. Gyms are packed with people who have made a resolution to lose weight and restaurants and grocery stores have been stocking up on salads, grilled chicken breasts and “diet items”. Parents are vowing to spend less time at work and more time with kids, and husbands and wives are doing the same thing with regards to time spent together. And the list goes on and on. From a spiritual perspective there is also a list of worthy things to do like reading the Bible more, laying aside an area of sin struggle, praying more, being more evangelistic, inviting people to church, etc. but in the religious community the verbage is a little different. Whereas people as a whole “make resolutions” we find that within the church people are often encouraged to “make decisions”. The purpose in this writing today is not to address whether or not a person is able to simply “decide” to change or if they can make a decision to accomplish a spiritual task if they’ve not been equipped by the Spirit to do so in the first place. My position on that is probably apparent, but regardless I want to point out what I believe is one of the greatest areas of decision/resolution we can make regardless of who we are. 1 Corinthians 2:1-5 And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. (2) For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. (3) And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, (4) and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, (5) so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. Do you see it there in verse 2? “I have decided to know nothing among you except Christ and him crucified”. You could say that Paul made a resolution, a vow (other versions say that he “determined”), or a DECISION that as a preacher the Gospel would remain preeminent, that it would ever lead the way and it would be the power by which he spoke and whereby he lived so that people could see him and go ‘WOW, God is amazing!” Christian, let me assure you that there will come a time in this year before you that you will be in weakness, in fear and you will tremble. There will come a time when you are around someone who is weak, in fear and is trembling. Where will you turn yourself or what will you give to them? A pat on the back, a forced smile and a copy of “Chicken Soup For The Grieving Soul”? Or will you give them Christ? In addition, every other spiritual “vow/decision” you make depends on whether or not you have also decided to look to the Cross and made it the focal point of your hope and your life. We are told that we can “do all things through Christ who strengthens me” and on the flip side Jesus says that “apart from me you can do nothing”. This is an area of “decision” that I can passionately get behind and support, for when this focus on the Gospel and on Christ is established and rooted in the life it empowers all those other areas. That which was once drudgerously boring religious duty becomes delightfully liberating discipline. The cross reminds us who we once were and who we now are. It is the light in the darkness that surrounds us always and is the voice of truth amidst the lies that assail us continually. Galatians 6:14 But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 1Corinthians 1:30-31 And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, (31) so that, as it is written, Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord. You are loved!
Posted on: Fri, 16 Jan 2015 20:07:32 +0000